TOKYO (JAPAN) – The number of suicides in Japan increased in October for the fourth month in a row, found to be the highest in more than five years, data showed on Tuesday.
According to preliminary police data, the total number of suicides for October was 2,153, with an increase of more than 300 from the previous month and the highest monthly tally since May 2015.
Of October’s cases, 851 were women, which showed a rise of 82.6% over the same month in 2019, while the number of suicides by men increased by 21.3%.
Cases of suicide started falling steadily until July, however, then the economic impact of coronavirus outbreak drastically affected people’s lives and the numbers started rising, activists say.
Women, who are more likely equipped in non-permanent employment in the retail or service industries, have been disproportionately affected by job losses.